Device and charger therefor

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a kit comprising a device and a charger each having a curved design. The device comprises a housing, a receive coil and a rechargeable electrical power storage element. The charger for the device comprises a yoke and a transmit coil. The receive coil axis and the transmit coil axis are arranged such that the receive coil and the transmit coil form an inductive coupling. Advantageously, the device may therefore be charged by the charger without a direct wired connection between the device and a power supply, despite the device and charger having a curved design.

1 . A kit comprising:
 a device comprising:
 a housing defining a housing surface which housing surface is curved about a curve axis of the device; and 
 a rechargeable electrical power storage element disposed within said housing; and 
 a receive coil connected to said rechargeable electrical power storage element, 
 wherein said receive coil is disposed within the housing and is curved about said curve axis of the device to an extent so that the housing surface and the receive coil are each of a complementary curvature, 
 and wherein said receive coil comprises turns arranged about a receive coil axis, which receive coil axis is substantially orthogonal with respect to said housing surface; and 
   a charger for the device, the charger comprising:
 a yoke adapted to receive said device, the yoke having a curved yoke surface, which curved yoke surface is shaped to complement said housing surface of the device when the device is received by the yoke; and 
 a transmit coil comprising turns around a transmit coil axis, the transmit coil disposed within the yoke and curved to an extent so that said curved yoke surface and the transmit coil are each of complementary curvature, 
 wherein said transmit coil is connectible to a power source so as to generate a varying magnetic flux to intersect the receive coil of the device and induce a varying voltage therein to charge the electrical power storage element of the device, 
   wherein the receive coil axis and the transmit coil axis are arranged such that the receive coil and the transmit coil form an inductive coupling.   
     
     
         2 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a retaining means for retaining the device on the charger. 
     
     
         3 . A kit as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said retaining means comprises a clamp mounted to said yoke and arranged such that said device is receivable between the clamp and the yoke. 
     
     
         4 . A kit as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said clamp comprises a deformable cushion on a contact surface of the clamp which contact surface contacts said device in use. 
     
     
         5 . A kit as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said clamp is curved about a clamp curve axis to an extent that the clamp and the housing surface are of a substantially similar curvature. 
     
     
         6 . A kit as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said clamp is curved about a clamp curve axis to an extent that the clamp and the housing surface are of a substantially similar curvature. 
     
     
         7 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said curved yoke surface comprises locating means for guiding the device onto the charger. 
     
     
         8 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises locating means for guiding the device onto the charger. 
     
     
         9 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a stand connected to the charger, the stand for supporting the charger and the device. 
     
     
         10 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the yoke surface is a surface of a spigot, over which the device is arranged to be placed. 
     
     
         11 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device is a wearable device. 
     
     
         12 . A kit as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the device is a device arranged to be worn on a user's wrist. 
     
     
         13 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a remote control for keyless entry to a vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . A kit as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a remote control for keyless entry to a building or to a room within a building. 
     
     
         15 . A device comprising:
 a housing defining a housing surface which housing surface is curved about a curve axis of the device; and   a rechargeable electrical power storage element disposed within said housing; and   a receive coil connected to said rechargeable electrical power storage element,   wherein said receive coil is disposed within the housing and is curved about said curve axis of the device to an extent so that the housing surface and the receive coil are each of a complementary curvature,   and wherein said receive coil comprises turns arranged about a receive coil axis, which receive coil axis is substantially orthogonal with respect to said housing surface.   
     
     
         16 . A charger for the device of  claim 15 , the charger comprising:
 a yoke adapted to receive said device, the yoke having a curved yoke surface, which curved yoke surface is shaped to complement said housing surface of the device when the device is received by the yoke; and   a transmit coil comprising turns around a transmit coil axis, the transmit coil disposed within the yoke and curved to an extent so that said curved yoke surface and the transmit coil are each of complementary curvature,   wherein said transmit coil is connectible to a power source so as to generate a varying magnetic flux to intersect the receive coil of the device and induce a varying voltage therein to charge the electrical power storage element of the device,   wherein the receive coil axis and the transmit coil axis are arranged such that the receive coil and the transmit coil form an inductive coupling.